Justice Dept. Says Courts Can Cut Costs on Poor Defendants

AP

Published: August 31, 1987

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30—
Screening defendants to determine their ability to pay for a lawyer and requiring some to pay for part or all of their defense costs could reduce the financial burden on courts, the Justice Department said today.

The National Institute of Justice, a research arm of the Justice Department, reached its conclusions after examining measures used to control costs in Los Angeles, Colorado and Seattle.

A 1963 Supreme Court ruling established that criminal defendants are entitled to be represented by a lawyer. It also required that a lawyer be provided at public expense for people who are unable to afford one.